Attachment for internal-combustion engines



l928l 2 Sheets-Sheet l P. W. LOEW Filed Oct. 1'7

ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES l April7f1931.

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ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. 17, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 7, 1931A UNITED STATES PAUL W. LOEW, OFLAKEWOOD, OHIO ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL-.COMBUSTION ENGINES Applicationled October 17, 1928. Serial No. 313,076.

This invention relates generally to internal combustion engines and moreparticularly to an attachment for internal combustion engines wherebyfresh air may be delivered to 3 the engine cylinders under certainpredetermined conditions thus effecting a cooling of the pistons andvalves and a saving of fuel.

The main obj ect of the inventio-n is to pro-v vide an attachment of thecharacter described which is adapted for use with automotive vehiclesdriven by an internal combustion engine and which is provided with meansfor admitting fresh air to the engine cylin ders to effect a cooling ofthe engine and also to brake the engine as aresult of the compression ofair within the cylinderswhile thel vehicle is descending an incline orwhen the speed ofthe vehicle is retarded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which to check or retard the speed `of the vehicle the devicewill be automatically actuated to admit fresh air to the enginecylinders as and for the purpose described.

Further and more limited objects of the invention will vappear as thedescription pro- `ceeds and by reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich Fig.- 1 is a fragmentary view partly in front elevation and partlyin vertical section disclosing my device attached to an internalcombustion engine; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electricalcircuit for controlling the operation of the device.

Referring now to the drawings the reference character 1 designates aportion of an internal combustion engine having an inlet manifold 2, anda carburetor 3 adapted to be connected therewith by means of aconnection Arranged within the connection 4C is the usual butterflythrottle valve 5 which is adapted to be actuated to control the speed ofthe engine.- Connectedy in the inlet mani- -foldbetween the connection4c and the'inlet manifold is a pipe or conduit 6 having an air inletopening which is 'normally closed by a valve 7 having a valve stem 8.Carried by the pipe or conduit 6 and preferab-ly cast integral therewithis a casing or container 9 which is divided into compartments 10 and 11by means of a partition 12. The partition 12 has a port or passageway 13therein which A serves to provide communication between the compartments10 and l1. Leading from the compartment 11 is a bore or passageway 14-which serves to provide communication bct-Ween the pipe or conduit 6 andthe compartment 11. Arranged within the compartment 11 is a solenoid 15having a movable core 16 lthe lower end of which constitutes a valvemember and normally closes the port or sa'geway 14.

Arranged within the compartment 10 is a solenoid 17 having a movablecore 18 which is threadedly connected with the valve stem 8. The lowerend of the core 18 terminates in a piston 1'9 which has a working litwithin the compartment 10. The solenoids 15 and 17 are preferablyconnected in series, the solenoid 17 being considerably larger than thesolenoid 15. The piston 19 is also of greater cross sectional area thanthe valve 7, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

The electrical circuit for actuating the solenoids is shown indetail inFig. 3 and consist essentially of a battery 20, or other source ofelectrical energy, from which leads a wire 21 which is connected with aterminal 22 of a switch 23. The switch 23 is operatively connected withthe clutch pedal 24 of the vehicle so as to be opened when the clutch isdisengaged. Leading from th'e terminal 25 of the switch 23 is a wire 24which connects with a terminal 25a of a switch 26 which is operativelyconnected with the brake pedal 27 of the vehicle so that when the brakeis applied the switch is closed. Leading from vthe terminal 28'of theswitch 26 is a wire 29 which connects with one terminal 30 of a doublepas- with the opposite side of the battery 20 thus,

pole double throw switch 31. Leading from one terminal 32 of the switch31 is a wire 33 which connects with a wire 34 which leads to oneterminal of the solenoid 15 which is preferably connected in series withthe solenoid 17. l'leading'fromthe opposite'terminal of the solenoid 17is a wire 35 which connects completing the electrical circuit. Leadingfrom the wire 24 is a wire 36 which connects with one terminal 37 of theswitch 31. Leading from the terminal 38 of the switch 31 is a wire 39which connects with the wire 34. The switch 3 1 is preferably located onthe da-sh of the vehicle so as to be readily accessible to the driver.

Under ordinary operating conditions of the engine, the Valves 16 and 7are in closed position, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. When the engineis running, there is always some degree of vacuum in the inlet manifold,and it will be seen that the suction through the passageway 14 tends tohold the valve 16 to its seat.. Assuming that the switch 31 is in theposition a, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the vehicle is inmotion, and it is desired to bring the vehicle to a stop, the brake 27will be applied, thereby closing the switch 26. When this circuit isclosed, the solenoids 15 and 17 will be energized, and the core 16 ofsolenoid 15 will be lifted, thus opening the pa-ssageway 14 whereuponthe compartment 1() will be placed in communication with the inletmanifold. The solenoid 17 is so designed and of such strength that itdoes not exert suflicient pull to lift the piston 18 so long asatmospheric pressure exists -within the chamber 10 and suction inchamber 6. When the valve 16 is opened, the compartment 1 will be placedin communication with the inlet manifold and thepsuction therein willdecrease the pressure within this compartment, whereupon the piston 18will be lifted because of greater suction on piston 19 than valve 7 dueto difference in their areas, and also by the action of the solenoid,thus openin the valve 7 and admitting fresh air throug conduits 6 and tothe inlet manifold 2. During -this operation, the throttle valve 5 willusually be in the osition shown in Fig. 1 and the engine will e idling.Asl soon as the clutch 24 is disengaged the switch 23 will be openedthereby breaking the circuit to the solenoid and allowing the valve 7 toclose by gravity. Of course a spring may be used for closing this valve,if desired.

When it is desired to descend a steep grade, as down a mountain, theswitch 31 is moved to the position b as shown/in dotted lines in Fig. 3.The engine will be idling and when the brake 27 is applied to check thespeed of the vehicle, the switch 26 will be closed and the circuit' tothe solenoids will be made, thereby opening the valve 7 and admittingfresh air to the cylinders. Admitting fresh air to the cylinder tends tomaterially cool the cylinders and engine valves and also increases thebraking action due to the compression of the air withinvthe cylinders.As soon as the clutch pedal 24 is slightly depressed, the circuit to thesolenoids is broken. vWith the switch 31 in the position b shown in Fig.3, it willbe seen that the circuit to the solenoids will be maderegardless of the position of the brake 27 and that the valve 7 will beopened as soon as the suction through the conduit 6 is suiiicient todecrease the pressure wit-hin the compartment 10 sufficiently to permitthe piston 18 to be lifted by thesole- 'noid 17 thus rendering' thedevice automatic.

lVhile I have described the device as an attachment, it is of courseunderstood that the device could be made an integral part of' thecarburetor or intake manifold; but it must located at some point betweenthe throttle valve of-the carburetor and the engine cylinders.

The simplest method of control would nat urally be a manually operatedswitch, with perhaps a small light or other indicator indicating whetheror not the-solenoids were energized. However, it is intended that thedevice should be automatic, and controlled primarily from the brake andclutch so that the driver will have the benefits of the device withouthaving to remember whether or not the manually operated switch isclosed, "so that when bringing the vehicle to a stop, or when coastingor braking, the device will automatically function when the brake isapplied. Just before a complete stop is made, the driver usuallydisengages the clutch to prevent stalling of the engine with the resultthat the switch 23 is opened', thus breaking the circuit to thesolenoids and allowing the valve 7 to close. f

My device has a beneficial effect on the engine of the vehicle becauseit tends to cool the piston with a volume of cool fresh air and alsotends to cool the valves. The admission of fresh air into the enginecylinders unmiXed with any gas or vapors also has a decarbonizing effectshould there be any excess carbon present. Many drivers make a practiceof descending steep grades in second gear and ofcutting off the ignitionto the engine, and with my attachment, it will be seen that freshair'will be drawn in through the intake manifold unmixed with any gasvapors thereby effecting a conslderable savlng of fuel.

It will-therefore be seen that my device is of particular utility inmountainous regions as well as in warm or tropical climates.

' .It is of course understood that the air inlet ,Valve may be operated.by means of a single my invention is limited only in accordance withthe scope of the appended/claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In anautomotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine for driving thesame, the combination of a mechanism connected into the inlet manifoldbetween the carburetor throttle valve and engine for admitting fresh airto the engine cylinders under certain predetermined conditions, saidmechanism including a casing having an air inlet opening and a conduitleading into said inlet manifold, said casing having a pair ofcompartments, a piston arranged within one of said compartments, an airinlet valve connected with said piston, abore connecting saidcompartment with said conduit, a valve for controlling the flow throughsaid bore, electromagnetic means for actuating each of said valves andmeans for energizing said electromagnetic means.

2. In an automotive Vehicle having an internal combustion engine fordriving the same, the combinationof a mechanism connected in the inletmanifold between the carburetor throttle valve and engine for admittingfresh air to the engine cylinders under certain predeterminedconditions, said mechanism including a casing having an air inletopening and a conduit leading into said inlet manifold, a valve normallyclosing said air inlet opening, a piston connected with said vvalve andconstituting the coreof an electromagnet and means for energizing saidelectromagnet, suction means for exhausting the air above said pistonand means for rendering said suction means effective.

8. In an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine fordriving the same, the combination of a mechanism connected in the inletmanifold between the carburetor throttle valve and engine for admit--ting fresh air to the engine cylinders under certain predeterminedconditions, said mech-g anism including a casing having an air inletopening and a conduit leading into said inlet manifold, a valve normallyclosing said air inlet opening, and the combination of electromagneticmeans and suction means for opening said valve under certainpredetermined conditions, and electromagnetic means for rendering suchsuction means effective.

4. In an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine fordriving the same, the combination of a mechanism connected i'n the inletmanifold between the carburetor throttle valve and engine for admittingfresh air to the engine cylinders under certain predeterminedconditions, said mechanism including a casing having an air inletopening, a valve normally closing said openin electromagnetic means foropening said va ve under certain predetermined conditions, and suctionmeans for rendering said electromagnetic means effective.

5. In an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine fordriving the same, the combination of a mechanism connected in the inletmanifold between the carburetor throttle valve and engine and includinga valve adapted to be opened to admit fresh air into the enginecylinders, electromagnetic means for opening said valve including amanually operable switch for closing the circuit to energize saidelectromagnetic means, and suction means for rendering saidelectromagnetic means effective.

6. In an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine fordriving the same and a brake for checking the movement thereof, of amechanism connected in the inlet manifold between the carburetor andengine, said mechanism including a valve adapted to be opened to admitfresh air` to the engine cylinders and electromagnetic means connectedin electrical circuit with said brake for opening said valve to admitfresh air to tle anginc cylinders when the brake is app 1e 7. In an`automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine for driving thesame, the combination of a brake for checking the movement of thevehicle and a clutch for disconnecting the driving connection betweenthe motor and vehicle, of'a mechanism connected in the inlet manifoldbetween the carburetor throttle valve and engine, said mechanismincluding a valve adapted to be opened to admit fresh air to the enginecylinders and electromagnetic means for opening said valve, saidelectromagnetic means being connected in electric circuit with saidbrake and clutch.

8. In an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine fordriving the same and a clutch for disconnecting the drive between theengine and the vehicle, the combination of a mechanism connected in theinlet manifold between the carburetor throttle valve and engine, saidmechanism includ ing a valve adapted to be opened to admit fresh air tothe engine cylinders and including electromagnetic means for openingsaid valve, said electromagnetic means being con.- nected in electricalcircuit with said clutch.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my

